Noras Symbolism in Henrik Ibsens A Dolls House Essay -- Dolls Hous

Noras Symbolism in Henrik Ibsens A snorts House In all(prenominal) society billet is the bringer of fortune and influence. In his play A Dolls House, Henrik Ibsen portrays, through with(predicate) the character of Nora, the business leader wowork force are gaining in patriarchal societies. Nora, who symbolizes all women, exercises her power throughout the entire play. She cleverly manipulates the men around her while, to them, she seems to be staying in her subordinate role. In all three acts of the play Nora controls many situations and yields the closely power. Act I, along with the introduction of Ibsens tone and style, brought the introduction of power. It seems that since the Helmer household is symbolizing patriarchal European society that male characters should bare the most power. However, this is not true. Nora, a woman, yields a great deal of the power over the men in the play. In act I it becomes obvious that Nora has forged documents for a loan in orde r to save her husband, Torvalds, life. This deed in itself turn ups that she has power to be manipulative and deceitful. But also in act I Nora uses one of her most powerful weapons, influence over Torvald, to threaten Krogstad. Krogstad is a malicious character who puts the Helmers reputation in jeopardy by morose to reveal Noras illegal actions. Nora, on the other hand, will not allow for this type of slander and says to Krogstad, Nora Sometimes one has a tiny chip shot of influence, I should hope. Because one is a woman, it does not necessarily follow that--. When anyone is in a subordinate position, Mr. Krogstad, they should really be careful to avoid somebody who-- who-- Krogstad Has power? Nora Exactly. (21) Nora uses an understatement by making i... ...r over many years (or acts), until they save enough power to shut the door on the patriarch. The entire contrast of the play takes place in the Helmer household, which represents the patriarch, until the la st scene where Nora leaves the house to show the beginning of women-powered societies. Noras power-yielding role in Ibsens play further proves that women were and still are gaining power in male run societies. Works CitedIbsen, Henrik. A Doll House (1879). Trans. Rolf Fjelde. Rpt. in Michael Meyer, ed. The Bedford Introduction to Literature. 5th edition. Boston & New York Bedford/St. Martins Press, 1999. 1564-1612. Shaw, Bernard. A Dolls House Again. Twentieth-Century Literary Criticism. Detroit Gale Research Inc., 1979. Templeton, Joan. The Doll House Backlash Criticism, Feminism, and Ibsen. PMLA (January 1989) 28-40.